Table 3.

Main features of ICP monitoring catheters

Intraventricular catheters	Intra-parenchymal catheters
More accurate	Fairly accurate
Represent global ICP	May not represent global ICP
Lower cost	Higher cost
Can be recalibrated in situ	Inability to recalibrate
Can drain CSF as an ICP lowering therapy	Inability to drain CSF
Higher risk of infection	Lower risk of infection
Difficult to place into brains with severe cerebral edema	Easier to place

ICP: Intracranial pressure, CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid